Washington, D.C.—Sept. 27, 2011—Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American neighbors, Canada and Mexico, was 18.1 percent higher in July 2011 than in July 2010, totaling $72.4 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico, the United States’ North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, in July 2011 rose 40.4 percent in two years from July 2009, but has still only risen 1.0 percent above the level of July 2008.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico in July increased by 29.4 percent when compared to July 2006, and also increased by 77.1 percent when compared to July 2001, a period of 10 years. Imports in July were up 60.7 percent since July 2001, while exports were up 100.8 percent.
Surface transportation includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, Foreign Trade Zones, and other. In July, 85.2 percent of U.S. trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved via land, 10.8 percent moved by vessel, and 4.1 percent moved by air.
The value of U.S. surface transportation trade with Canada and Mexico decreased 6.7 percent in July 2011 from June 2011. Month-to-month changes can be affected by seasonal variations and other factors.
U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico surface transportation trade both increased compared to July 2010 with U.S.-Canada reaching $42.5 billion, a 17.0 percent increase, and U.S.-Mexico reaching $29.9 billion, a 19.7 percent increase.
In July trade by state, Michigan led all states in surface trade with Canada as it has in previous years, at $4.5 billion, a 27.7 percent increase from July 2010. Texas also continued to lead all states in surface trade with Mexico at $10.7 billion, a 16.3 percent increase from July 2010.
More information on TransBorder Freight Data and data from previous months are posted on the BTS website at http://www.bts.gov/programs/international/transborder/. BTS will release August TransBorder numbers on Nov. 1.
